Fish-dressing machine.



Patented Ndv. 19, I90l. A. w. FUNK.

FISH DRESSING MACHINE.

(Application flied Apr. 8, 190;.

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(Nb Model.)

7 INVENTOHE,

m A7T0RNEYJ Patented Nov. 19, 190i.

A. W. FUNK.

FISH DRESSING MACHINE.

(Application filed Apr. 8, 1901.)

2 Sheets-Shea: 2.

(N6 Model.)

M MW M W Y M b mm -.\QIV.UI U E w QAHBGH H A TTOHNE n:

ma Nonms PETERS c0. PHOTQ-LITHO WAYSHINGYION, u. c.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALEXANDER W. FUNK, o 'oL vE A D, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF THREE- FOURTHS TOROBERT o. BENDER AND TO THE BUCKEYE FISH COMPANY, OF oLEvELAND, OHIO, ACORPORATION or OHIO.

FISH-DR ES SINTG MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 687,010, dated November19, 1901. Application filed April 8, 1901. Serialll'o. 54,928- (Nomodel.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Beit known thatI, ALEXANDER W.FUNK, a

' resident of Cleveland, in the county of Guyahoga and State of Ohio,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fish- DressingMachines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it pertains to makeand use the same. v

My invention relates to improvements in fish --dressing machines; andthe invention pertains more especially to a machine capable of openingthe belly of the fish centrally and longitudinally, removing theentrails and cleaning the fish internally and beheading the cleanedfish. The object of this invention is to provide a machine of thecharacter indicated'which will dress fish with great facility and whichis simple and durable in construction and reliable and convenient in itsoperation.

With this object in view the invention consists in certain features ofconstruction and combinations of parts hereinafter described, andpointed out in the claims. I In the accompanying drawings, Figure I is atop plan of a machine or apparatus embodying my invention, and portionsare broken away in this figure to more clearly show the construction.Fig. II isa vertical section on line II II, Fig. I, looking in thedirection indicated by the arrow. Fig. III is a vertical section indetail on line III III, Fig. I, looking rearwardly. on line IV IV, Fig.I, looking in the direction indicated by the arrow. Fig. V is an eleva:tion illustrating the rear side of thebaro and shows the sloping surfaceof, formed upon the said side, engaged by the roller m of one of thebars m. section on line VI VI, Fig. I, looking in the directionindicated by the arrow. Fig. VII is a vertical-section on line' VII VII,Fig-I, looking in the direction indicated by the arrow. Fig. VIII is avertical, section on line VIII VIII, Fig. I, looking in the directionindicated by the arrow. Fig. IX is a section on the somewhat irregularline IX IX, Fig. I,

Fig. IV is a vertical section" Fig. -VI is a vertical looking in thedirection indicated by the arrow and illustrating the operation of themechanism instrumental in the withdrawal of a fish-attaching pin e ofthe fish-carrier. Fig. X is a section on line X X,Fig. I, lookingforwardly, except that in Fig. X a fish f is shown being operated uponand of course engaged by the jaw Z of one of the arms 0 of thefish-carrier.

- Referring to the drawings, a. designates the stationarysupporting-framework of the ma chine, and 1) represents avertically-arranged suitably-driven shaft which is supported from theframework in'any approved manner. A rotary fish-carrier for receivingthe fish to be operated upon and carrying the same during the operationsthereon is arranged in a horizontal plane and operativelyconnected inany approved manner with the shaft 1). The said fish-carrier comprises,preferably, a wheel a, operatively mounted upon the upper end of theshaft -b and having several outwardlyprojecting horizontally arrangedarms 0, which are arranged radially and spaced equidistantcircumferentially of the wheel 0. The shaft '1) is rotated in thedirection required to cause the fish-carrier to rotate in the directionindicated by the arrow, Fig. I, and is intergeared, as at b, with thedriving-shaft d, which isarranged at the left-hand side of and at rightangles to the shaft 17 and supported from the framework 0. in anyapproved man-.

ner. The shaft 01 has a driving-wheel at, (only shown in dotted linesFig. 1,) to which power is-applied in any approved manner.

- Each arm 0' of the fish-carrier receives the fish that is to be placedthereon preparatory to the operations upon the said fish at the forwardside of the machine, where the attendant who supplies the machine withfish to be operated upon stands, and I would here remark that a fish tobe operated upon is laid upon the outer end of each arm 0, when the saidar'm during the operation of the machine comes into position at theforward side of the machine, and the fish thus placed upon the said armis laid on its side along the outer or circumferential edge of thearmwith its head pointing in the direction in which the fishcarrier isrotated and with its belly facing outwardly. In the drawings, fdesignates a fish being operated upon. Each fish which is delivered tothe machine is attached to the respective arm 0 by anupwardly-projecting upright pin 6, which is arranged to project throughthe said arm 0' into the head of the fish. *ach arm 0 is provided,therefore, with a pin 6, which engages and is adapted to operate withina hole or recess 0 formed in and extending vertically through the saidarm 0, as shown more clearly in Fig. VIII. The pin e of each arm a iscarried by the outer end of a vertically-tiltable bare, which extendsfrom the said pin toward the axis of the fish-carrier and is arrangedbelow and supported from the fish-carrier in any approved manner, beingpivoted horizontally, as at 6 to a hanger c rigid with and dependingfrom the said carrier. A suitably-applied spring 6 is interposed betweenthe underside of the fish-carrier and the bar 6 between the axis andinner end of the said bar, which spring is attached to the said carrierand acts to retain the said bar tilted in the direction required to holdthe pin '6, connected with the bar, elevated, and the said pin a is longenough to project, when elevated, above the respective fish-carrying arm0 the distance required to enable the said pin in its elevated positionto project upwardly through or into the head of the fish placed upon thesaid arm, and thereby removably attach the fish at its head to thefish-carrier. The spring e of each fish-carrying arm 0 acts, therefore,to retain the fish-engaging pin 6 of the said arm in its elevatedposition. The inner end of the bar e of each arm 0 (see Figs. I and IX)is provided with a roller e and an incline a, formed upon the stationaryframework of the machine below the fishcarrier, is arranged rearwardlyand circumferentially of the shaft 1) and slopes upwardly in thedirection in which the fish-carrier is rotated and has such arrangementrelative to the inner and roller-bearing end of the bars 6 of thefish-carrying arms 0' that the rollerbearing end of each bar 6 shallduring the revolution of the said bar during the operation of themachine engage and ride upon the said incline and by the latter betilted in the direction required to effect a lowering of theupwardly-projecting pin 6 of the bar below the upper surface of thefish-carrier, and consequently out of engagement with the engaging fish.

The operation of opening the belly of the fish and cleaning the sameinternally takes place during the interval of time between theattachment of the fish to be operated upon to a pin e of thefish-carrier and the disengagement of the said pin from the fish. In thenuchine illustrated, therefore, the apparatus for opening the fish andremoving the entrails is arranged at the right-hand side of the machine,and the device for opening the belly of the fish comprises a rotaryperipherieally-serrated cutter g, (see Fig. I,) operatively mounted inany approved manner upon a vertically-arranged shaft g, which issuitably supported from the framework 66 and is operatively connected bypulleys g and belting g with another vertically-arranged shaft 7t,located at the left-hand side of the machine and suitably supported fromthe framework a, and the last-mentioned shaft is intergeared, as at h,with the driving-shaft d, and consequently the cutter-shaft g isoperatively connected with the driving-shaft. I have found that a rotaryperipherically-serrated cutter is especially suitable for opening fishpreparatory to the subsequent internal cleaning of the fish. The cutteris located, of course, forward of the means employed to remove theentrails from the fish and extends into the path of the fish thedistance required to render it capable of entering the head and belly ofthe fish a suitable distance. The cutter is arranged above the uppersurface of the fish-carrier in position to open the belly of the fishoperated upon by the cutter centrally and longitudinally.

Obviously it is important to suitably guide and prevent displacement ofthe fish preparatory to and during the operation of the cutter g. Aguide 7c extends from the rear side of the cutter g forwardly andcircumferentially of the sweep of the fislrcarrier. The guide 70 isarranged to engage the belly of the fish preparatory to and during theoperation of the cutter g and is secured at its rear end in any approvedmanner (see Figs. I and VI) to an arm or bracket (1 rigid with theframework a. The guide in cross-section or end elevation has the shaperequired to render it capable of embracing the belly of the fish, asshown in Figs. II, IV, and VIII. The rear portion of the guide 70 isslotted laterally, as at 75, (see Fig. VI,) to accommodate the locationand operation of the cutter g. Obviously the guide 70 is instrumentalalso in supporting'the fish preparatory to and during the operation ofthe cutter g and prevents displacement of the fish vertically.

Each arm 0' of the fish-carrier is provided with means adapted toyieldingly press the fish-carrier by the said arm outwardly, andconsequently the fish upon the said arm is pressed against the innerside of the guide 7a preparatory to and during the operation of thecutter g. The said pressure-exerting means comprises, preferably, ayielding jaw Z, (see .Figs. I and IL) having the dimensions and shaperequired to render it capable of embracing the back of the fish next toor near the head of the fish. The jaw Z of each fish-carrying arm 0' hasa stem l, which extends from the jaw toward the axis of the fish-carrierand has bearing in two boxes 0 and c, rigid with the said arm a suitabledistance apart longitudinally of the stem. A spiral spring Z is mountedand confined upon the said stem Z between the inner box at and a pin orshoulder Z with which the said stem is provided between the two boxes 0and c and a suitable distance from the outer box The said spring Z actsto retain the connected jaw Zin its outer extreme position. The guide Ithas such arrangement relative to the path of the pressure-exerting jawslof the fish-carrier that the jaw Z of each arm a of the said carriershall during the travel of the said jaw adjacent to and along the guide70 press the fish upon the said arm 0 against the said guide It.Obviously the members 1 prevent displacement of the fish engaged therebyinwardly or toward the axis of the fish-carrier. The lower portion ofeach jaw Z slightly elevates the fish engaged by the said jaw above theupper surface of the fish-carrier, as desired, for convenientlyaccommodating the various operations upon the fish. 7

To hold the body of the fish which is to be operated upon in linehorizontally from end to end preparatory to and during the operation ofthe cutter g to enable the latter to open the fish centrally from end toend of the body of the fish, each arm 0' of the fish-carrier is providedupon its upper side with a forked bar m, arranged with its forked end inposition to straddle the. head of the fish at the back of the fish andhold the forward end of the fish in the position required to enable thecutter g to properly commence its operation upon the fish at the head orforward end of the fish, centrally between the sides of the fishthat is,the lower member m of the forked end of the bar m (see Fig. VIII)alfords a seat for the forward end of the fish and holds the head of thefish straight in line with the body 'of the fish, and the upper member mof the forked end of the bar m prevents upward dis placement of the headof the fish during the operation of the machine. Each bar an extendsfrom its forked end toward the axis of the fish-carrier and has bearingin two boxes 0 and 0 arranged a suitable distance apart longitudinallyof the bar and rigid with the fish-carrier, and a spiral spring m ismounted and confined upon the said bar between the inner box 0 and a pinor shoulder m with which the bar is provided between the two boxes 0 andc and a suitable distance from the outer box 0 retain the bar in itsextreme outer or fish-engageable position. The jaw Z of each arm 0' ofthe fish-carrier is arranged centrally between the bar m of the said armand a slightlyelevated seat 71 for the rear end of the body of the fishcarried by the said arms, (see Figs. I and IV,) which seat n is formedby the inwardly and upwardly sloping top of a lug formed upon the saidarm 0'.

To accommodate a convenient attachment of the fish to the pin e of anarm a of the fishcarrier, means for actuating the bar m of the said arminwardly far enough away from the said pin 6 is provided, and comprises,preferably, (see Figs. I and V,) a horizontally-arranged guide-bar arigid with the framework a and arranged below the fish-carrier andforward of the shaft 6. The bar a has its cen The said spring at acts totral portion provided with a surface a, ar-

ranged concentrically of the shaft 19 and ter minating at its left-handend in a surface a, which extends to theleft and outwardly from the saidend of the aforesaid surface a and is arranged in the path of a roller mwith which an arm m formed upon and depending from the inner end of eachbar m, is pro: vided. The engagement of the roller m of the arm at of abar at with the surface a of the bar a is shown in Fig. V.

Improved apparatus for spreading apart the sides of the fish, which hasbeen opened, as hereinbefore described, and thereupon removing theentrails from the fish and cleaning and scraping the opened portion ofthe fish internally is located at the rear of the cutter g and comprises(see Figs. I, VI, and

X) a wheel 0 operatively mounted upon the upper end of avertically-arranged shaft 0, which is supported from the framework a inany approved manner and is operatively connected, by means of pulleys oand belt 0 with the shaft h. The Wheel 0 is provided upon its peripherywith projections 0 having their sweep extending into the path of theopened portion of the fish, and consequently arranged to enter the fishduring the operation of the said wheel and remove the entrails from andeffectually scrape and clean the fish internally.

The devicep (see Figs. I, III, and VI) for spreading apart the sides ofa fish opened by the cutter g is arranged between the cutter and thefish-cleaning wheel 0 in the line of the opened portion of the fish andextends from a point next adjacent and in close proximity to theserrated periphery of the cutter g rearwardly and circumferentially ofthe fish-carrier toward the said wheel 0. The upper side and lower sideof the spreading device diverge, as shown in Fig. VI, from the forwardextremity of the said device rearwardly, so that the said device iscapable of gradually spreading apart the sides of the openedportion ofthe fish, and the spreading device at its rear end has two arms 10 and poverlapping the upper side and lower side, respectively, of the sweep ofthe fish-cleaning projections 0 of the wheel 0, as-shown in Fig. VI. Twoyielding pressure exerting sheet-metal plates 7" and 1' (see Figs. I,III, VI, and X) are arranged, respectively, above and below thespreading devicep and extend longitudinally of the spreading devicecircumferentially of the fish-carrier and beyond the rear end of thespreading device and overlap the top and bottom, respectively, of theouter or fish-cleaning portion of the wheel 0. A strong fiat spring rengages the upper side of the upper pressure-exerting plate 1", andanother strong fiat spring r engages the lower side of the lowerpressure exerting plate r. The springs r and T the pressureexertingplates 1" and r, and the spreading device are secured to the stationaryframework a in any approved manner. Obviously the opened portion of afish that is being cleaned internally by the wheel 0 embraces thespreading device and has its sides spread apart by the said spreadingdevice to accommodate and facilitate an efi'ective operation of thewheel 0 upon the interior of the fish. The projections 0 of the wheel 0to render them capable of nicely cleaning the walls of the chamberformed within the opened fish are rounded at their outer extremity, asat 0 and each projection has a radially-arranged face 0 forming acontinuous cutting edge 0 extending radially of the wheel at the top ofthe said face to and along the rounded extremity o of the projection andradially of the wheel at the bottom of the said face. Thepressure-exerting members 1' and r vertically confine the fish beingoperated upon by the wheel and are somewhat pressed apart during theoperation of the wheel 0 against the action of the springs 'r' and 0-and obviously the fish being cleaned is vigorously acted upon during theoperation of the said wheel without injury to the meat of the fish.

To prevent scattering of the entrails or other material removed from theinterior of the fish during the cleaning of the fish by the wheel 0, ahood cc,which covers and incloses the outer portion of the said wheel,(see Figs. I and X,) is provided and formed preferably upon the upperend of a hopper or receptacle m, which is arranged below the said wheelin position to catch the said material. The receptacle as is providedwith an inclined bottom 00 and a discharge-opening m at the lower end ofthe said bottom, as shown in Fig. X.

Each arm a of the fish-carrier is provided also with a knife 3 forbeheading the fish, and the said knife sis formed upon the upper end ofa vertically-movable bar 8', which extends (see Figs. I and IX) througha slot 0 formed in and radially of the said arm. In the normal positionof the parts the knife-bar is elevated above the path .of the fishcarried by the said arm, as shown in Fig. VIII. The knife projectsoutwardly from the arm and is arranged radially of the fish-carrier, andthe knife has its lower and cutting edge arranged at'an angle to theknife-bar, so as to render the knife capable of making a shear out. Theslot 0 extends to the peripheral edge of the arm 0' and is of coursewide enough to accommodate the location and operation of the knife-barand connected knife.

The knife 8 of each fish-carrying arm 0' is arranged between thehead-centering bar 'm and the fish-engaging jaw l of the said arm, andobviously the said knife upon actuating the same downwardly far enoughsevers the head from the body of the fish. The knifebar 5 of eachfish-carrying arm 0' extends below the said arm a suitable distance (seeFig. IX) and extends through and has bearing in a laterally-projectingcar 25, formed upon a bracket or hanger t, rigid with and dependin gfrom the said arm, and a spiral spring 5 mounted and confined upon thesaid knifebar between the said ear t and an external shoulder 5 formedupon the said bar 3 a suitable distance above the ear, acts to retainthe said bar and cutting-knife in their normal and elevated position.Means for operating each knife 3 after the fish which is next to bebeheaded by the said knife has been cleaned by the wheel 0 is thereforeprovided and (see Figs. I and 1X) consists, preferably, of a plate orbar a, which is removably secured, by means of screws a", to thestationary framework a of the machine, which bar or plate a is providedwith an upright arm a, having at its upper end a flange a extendingcircumferentially of the axis of the fish-carrier, and the under side ofthe said flange a is arranged in the path of theroller s, with which thelower end of each knife-bar s is provided, and has such trend that eachknife 5 once during each rotation of the fish-carrier is operatedagainst the action of the spring, which acts to retain the said knife inits elevated position. The plate or bar a is of course locatedrearwardly of or beyond the fish-cleaning wheel 0, as shown in Fig. I,and consequently the fish-beheading operation does not take place untilafter a fish which is to be beheaded has been cleaned internally.

Aguide a, which substantially corresponds in construction to theconstruction of the guide 70, is instrumental in guiding the fish duringthe travel of the fish from the Wheel 0 to the place where the beheadingoperation takes place. The guide a is instrumental in preventingdisplacement of the fish preparatory to and during the fish-beheadingoperation. The guide it extends from the rear side of the wheel 0rearwardly and cireumferentially of the sweep of the fish-carrier and isarranged to be engaged by the belly of the fish and is supported in anyapproved manner from the framework a. The guide it in cross-section orend elevation has the shape required to render it capable of embracingthe belly of the fish, as shown in Fig. VI, and the forward portion ofthe said guide is slotted laterally, as at u, (see Fig. VI,) toaccommodate the location and operation of the fish-cleaning wheel 0.Obviously the guide a is instrumental also in supporting the fish duringthe interval of time between the cleaning operation and the beheadingoperation.

Obviously the fish-attaching pin 6 of each fish-carryin g arm 0' shouldbe withdrawn from the fish next after the beheading operation toaccommodate the discharge of the beheaded fish from the fish-carrier,and consequently TIO the arrangement of parts or members of the I saidmechanism is such that the said pin shall means for attaching the fishto the carrier near the circumferential edge of the carrier, arotarycutter arranged outside of the sweep of the carrier in position toopen the fish longitudinally, means for operating the cutter, astationary guide extending forwardly from the cutter and arrangedcircumferentially of the sweep of the fish-carrier in the positionrequired to render it capable of guiding the fish during the passage ofthe fish to the cutter, and means upon the carrier for engaging the fishand pressing the fish against the aforesaid guide preparatory to and durin g the operation of the cutter.

2. A fish-dressing machine comprising a rotary fish-carrier arranged tooperate in a horizontal plane, means for operating the carrier, meansfor attaching the fish to the carrier near the circumferential edge ofthe carrier,

a rotary cutter arranged outside of the sweep of the carrier in positionto open the fish longitudinally, means for operating the cutter, astationary guide 10 arranged circumferentially of the sweep of thefish-carrier and extending from the cutter forwardly and shaped asrequired to embrace the belly of the fish preparatory to and during theoperation of the cutter, and means upon the carrier forengaging the backof the fish and holding the fish against the aforesaid guide preparatoryto and during the operation of the cutter.

3. A fish-dressing machine comprisinga rotary fish-carrier arranged tooperate in a horizontal plane, means for operating the carrier, meansfor attaching the fish to the carrier near the circumferential edge ofthe carrier, a cutter arranged outside of the sweep of the carrier inposition to open the fish lon-' gitudinally, means for operating thecutter, a guide extending forwardly from the cutter and arrangedcircumferentially of the sweep of the carrier in the position requiredto be engaged by the adjacent portion of the fish preparatory to andduring the operation of' the carrier, and a yielding clamping-jawlocated on the carrier and arranged to engage the fish opposite theaforesaid guide during the operation of the carrier.

4. A fish-dressing machine comprisinga rotary fish-carrier, means foroperating the carrier, means for attaching the fish to the carrier nearthe circumferential edge of the carrier, a cutter arranged outside ofthe sweep of the carrier in position to open the fish longitudinally,means for operating the cutter, a guide extending forwardly from thecutter and arranged circumferent-ially of the sweep of the carrier inthe position required to engage the adjacent portion of the fishpreparatory to and during the operation of the cutter, a yieldableclamping-jaw located on the carrier and arranged to engage the fishopposite the aforesaid guide d'uring the operation of the carrier, andmeans acting to retain the said jaw in its operative position.

5. A fish-dressin g machine comprising a rotary fish-carrier arranged tooperate in a horizontal plane, means for operating the carrier, meansfor attaching the fish to the carrier near the circumferential edge ofthe carrier, a

rotary cutter arranged outside of-the sweep of applied spring arrangedto hold the said clamping-jawin its operative position.

6. A fish-dressing machine comprisinga rotary fish-carrier, means foroperating the carrier, means for attaching the fish to the carrier nearthe circumferential edge of the carrier, fish-opening means arrangedoutside of the sweep of the carrier, a stationary guide extendingforwardly from the fish-opening means and arranged circumferentially ofthe sweep of the carrier in the position required to engage the adjacentportion of the fish preparatory to and during the operation of thefish-opening means, a laterally-movable clamping-jaw located on thecarrier and arranged to engage the fish opposite the aforesaidguideduring'the operation of the carrier, which jaw is provided with astem extending toward the axis of the carrier, means .aifording bearingfor the stem and borne by the carrier, and means acting to retain thesaid jaw in its outer and operative position.

7. A fish-dressing machine comprising a rotary fish-carrier arranged tooperate in a horizontal plane, means for operating the carrier, meansfor attaching the fish to the carrier near the circumferential edge ofthe carrier, fish-opening means arranged outside of the sweep of thecarrier, a stationary guide arranged circumferentially of the sweep ofthe carrier'and extending from the fish-opening means forwardly andshaped as required to embrace the adjacent portion'of the fishpreparatory to and during the operation of the fish-opening means,alaterally-moving clamping-jaw located on the carrier and arranged toengage the fish opposite the aforesaid guide during the operation of thecarrier, which jaw is provided with a stem extending toward the axis ofthe fish-carrier, means adording hearing for the stem and-borne by thecarrier, and means acting to retain the aforesaid jaw in its outer andoperative position.

8. A fish-dressing machine comprisinga rotary fish-carrier arranged tooperate in a horizontal plane, means for operating the carrier, meansfor attaching the fish to the carrier near the circumferential edge ofthe carrier, fish-openingmeans arranged outside of the sweep of thecarrier, a stationary guide arranged outside and circumferentially ofthe sweep of the carrier and extending forwardly from the fish-openingmeans and too shaped as required to render it capable of embracing theadjacent portion of the fish preparatory to and during the operation ofthe fish-opening means, a jaw located on the carrier and arranged toengage the fish opposite the aforesaid guide during the operation of thecarrier, which jaw is provided with a stem extending toward the axis ofthe fish-carrier, two boxes affording bearing for the stem and rigidwith the carrier, and a spiral spring confined upon the said stembetween the inner box and the shoulder on the stem and acting to retainthe fish-pressing jaw in its extreme outer position.

9. A fish-dressing machine comprisinga rotary fish-carrier arranged tooperate in ahorizontal plane, means for operating the carrier, means forattaching the fish to the carrier near the circumferential edge of thecarrier, fishdressing apparatus arranged outside of the sweep of thecarrier, a stationary guide arranged circumferentially of the sweep ofthe carrier and extending forwardly from the said apparatus, a jawlocated on the carrier and arranged to press the fish against theaforesaid guide during the operation of the carrier, two seats atopposite ends, respectively, of the said jaw for holding the head andrear end of the bodyof the fish in line, one of the said seatsbeingrigid with the carrier, and the other seat being movable toward andfrom the axis of the carrier, and means acting to retain thelastmentioned seat in its extreme outer and operative position.

10. A fish-dressing machine comprising a rotary fish-carrier arranged tooperate in a horizontal plane, means for operating the carrier, meansfor attaching the fish to the carrier near the circumferential edge ofthe carrier, fish-opening means arranged outside of the sweep of thecarrier, a stationary guide arranged circumferentially of the sweep ofthe carrier and extending forwardly from the fish-opening means,ayielding jaw borne by the carrier and arranged to press the fish whichis to be operated upon against the inner side of the aforesaid guideduring the actuation of the carrier, two seats located 011 the carrierat opposite ends, respectively, of the said jaw for holding the head andrear end of the body of the fish in line, one of the said seats beingrigid with the carrier, and the other seat being movable lLO\ ard andfrom the axis of the carrier, means acting to retain the last-mentionedseat in its extreme outer and operative position, and means for shiftingthe said lastmentioned seat inwardly and thereby rendering it.inoperative and arranged to operate preparatory to the actuation of thefish alongside of the aforesaid guide.

11. A fish-dressing machine comprising a rotary fish-carrier arranged tooperate in a horizontal plane; means for operating the carrier; meansfor attaching the fish to the carrier near the circumferential edge ofthe carrier; fish-opening means arranged outside of the sweep of thecarrier; a stationary guide arranged outside and circumferentially ofthe sweep of the carrier and extending forwardly from the fish-openingmeans; a yielding jaw borne by the carrier and arranged to press thefish, which is to be operated upon, against the inner side of theaforesaid guide during the actuation of the carrier, a seat arrangedupon the carrier at one end of the said jaw and in position to somewhatelevate the rear end of the body of the fish; a fork arranged upon thecarrier at the opposite end of the aforesaid jaw in position to embraceand somewhat elevate the head of the fish, which fork is movable towardand from the axis of the fish-carrier; means acting to retain the saidfork in its extreme outer position, and means for actuating the saidfork inwardly and thereby rendering it inoperative, which last-mentionedfork-operating means is arranged to operate preparatory to the actuationof the fish alongside of the aforesaid guide.

12. A fish-dressing machine comprising a rotary fish-carrier, means foroperating the carrier, means for attaching the fish to the carrier nearthe circumferential edge of the carrier, fish-opening means arrangedoutside of the sweep of the carrier, a guide arranged outside of thecarrier and circuinferentially of the said sweep and extending forwardlyfrom the fish-opening means, means borne by the carrier and adapted topress the fish to be operated upon against the inner side of theaforesaid guide during the actuation of the carrier, a forked barcarried by the carrier and having its fork arranged to embrace the headof the fish, a spiral spring mounted and confined upon the said bar andacting to retain the bar in its outer and operative position, andstationary means arranged to oper ate upon the said bar and actuate thelatter inwardly during the operation of the carrier preparatory to theaction of the fish alongside the aforesaid guide, substantially as andfor the purpose set forth.

13. A fish-dressing machine comprising a rotary fish-carrier arranged tooperate in a horizontal plane; means for operating the carrier; meansforattaching the fish to the carrier near the circumferential edge ofthe carrier; fish-opening means arranged outside of the sweep of thecarrier; a stationary guide 70 arranged outside and eircumferentially ofthe sweep of the carrier and extending forwardly from the fislropeningmeans; means located on the carrier and adapted to yieldingly press thebody of the fish against the inner side of the aforesaid guide duringthe actuation of the carrier; an endwise-shiftable bar m borne by thecarrier and provided at one end with a fork arranged to embrace the headof the fish and extending toward the axis of the carrier and provided atits inner end with a depending roller-bearing arm; means acting toretain the said bar in its extreme outer position, and means arranged inthe path of the roller of the arm of the bar and adapted to actuate thebar inwardly and render it inoperative, and the arrangement of the partsbeing such that the said bar shall be rendered inoperative preparatoryto the actuation of the fish alongside of the aforesaid guide.

' 14. A fish-dressing machine comprising a rotary fish-carrierarrangedto operate in a horizontal plane; means for operating thecarrier; means for attaching the fish to the carrier near thecircumferential edge of the carrier; fish-opening means arranged outsideof the sweep of the carrier; a stationary guide 70 arranged outside andcircumferentially of the sweep of the carrier and extending forwardlyfrom the fish-opening means; means located upon the carrier and adaptedto yieldingly press the body of the fish which is to be operated uponagainst the inner side of the aforesaidguide during the actuation of thecarrier; an endwise-shiftable bar m borne by the carrier and provided atone end with afork arranged to embrace the head of the fish andextending toward the axis of the carrier and provided, at its inner end,with a depending arm m havinga roller m means acting to retain the saidbar in its extreme outer position, and the stationary bar a arrangedbelow the carrier forwardly of the axis of the carrier and provided witha surface a extending concentrically of the said axis, and a surface aextending outwardly from the said concentrically-arranged surface andarranged in the path of the aforesaid'roller, and the arrangement ofparts being suchthat the aforesaid shiftable bar shall be actuatedinwardly by the said surface a so as to render the said bar inoperativepreparatory to the actuation of the fish alongside of the aforesaidguide 70.

15. A fish-dressing machine comprising a rotary fish-carrier arranged tooperate in a horizontal plane; means for operating the carrier;fish-opening means arranged outside of the sweep of the carrier; a wheelhaving members arranged to enter the opened fish and clean or dress thefish internally; means for operating the said wheel; means for spreadingapart the sides of the opened fish preparatory to and during theoperation of the said wheel; two yielding plates arranged, respectively,above and below the path of the fish at the top and bottom,respectively, of the path of the fish-entering members of the aforesaidwheel, and springs engaging and bearing against the outer sides of thesaid plates.

16. A fish-dressing machine comprising a rotary fish-carrier, means foroperating the carrier, fish-opening means arranged to operate upon thefish during the operation of the carrier, a scraping-wheel arranged toenter the opened fish and clean or dress the fish internally, a hoodextending over the said wheel and preventing scattering of the entrailsremoved from the fish, and a receptacle arranged below the said wheeland below the hood for receiving the material removed from the fish.

17. Afish-dressing machine comprisinga rotary fish-carrier, means foroperating the carrier; fish-opening means arranged to operate upon thefish during the actuation of the carrier, means for cleaning or dressingthe fi'sh internally and arranged to operate upon the fish when thelatter is opened, and means for beheading the fish subsequent to theinternal cleaning or dressing of the fish.

18. A fish-dressing machine comprising a rotary fish-carrier, means foroperating the carrier, fish-opening means arranged to operate upon thefish during the actuation of the carrier, means for cleaning or dressingthe fish internally and arranged to operate upon the fish when thelatter is opened, a vertically-movable knife arranged to behead the vfish-openin g means arranged tooperate upon the fish during theactuation of the carrier, means for cleaning or dressing the fishinternally and arranged to operate upon the fish when. the latter isopened, a vertically-movable knife having its cutting edge at the bottomand arranged at an angle to the path of the knife and arranged to beheadthe fish during the descent of the knife, means act- 7 in g to retainthe knife in its elevated position, and means for lowering the knife andarranged to operate subsequent to the cleaning or dressing of the fishinternally.

20. A fish-dressing machine comprising a fish-carrier, means foroperating the carrier, fish-opening means arranged to operate upon thefish during the actuation of the carrier, means for cleaning or dressingthe fish internally and arranged to operate upon the fish when thelatter is opened, a knife arranged to behead the fish during the descentof the knife, a bar rigid with the knife and movable up and down andborne by the fish-carrier, means acting to retain the knife-bar in itselevated position, means for lowering the knife-bar and comprising aroller carried by the lower end of the knife-bar, and a stationarymember arranged in the path of the said roller and having such trendthat the said roller, upon its engagement with the said sta: tionarymember during the operation of the fish-carrier, shall be lowered andthereby result in the operation of the knife, and thear; rangement ofparts being such that the knife shall operate subsequent to the dressingor cleaning of the fish internally.

21. A fish-dressing machine comprising a fish-carrier, means foractuating the carrier, means for attaching the fish which is to be operated upon to the carrier, a fish-beheading knife arranged to operateduring its descent, a knife-bar rigid with the knife and movable up anddown and borne by the carrier, means acting to retain the knife-bar inits elevated position, and means for lowering the said bar at apredetermined time and thereby operating the knife.

22. A fish-dressin machine comprising a fish-carrier, means foractuating the carrier, means for attaching the fish which is to be0perated upon to the carrier, a fish-beheading knife arranged to operateduring its descent, a bar rigid with the knife and extending downwardlythrough the carrier and movable up and down, a spiral spring mounted andconfined upon the bar below the carrier and acting to retain the bar inits elevated position, and means for lowering the bar and therebyoperating the knife.

23. A fish-dressing machine comprising a rotary fish-carrier, means foroperating the carrier, fish-opening means arranged to operate upon thefish during the actuation of the carrier, means for cleaning or dressingthe fish internally and arranged to operate upon the fish when thelatter is opened, a fish-beheading knife arranged above and radially ofthe carrier in position to operate during the descent of the knife,means acting to retain the knife in its elevated position, mechanism forlowering and thereby operating the knife after the cleaning or dressingof the fish internally, and means for guiding and preventingdisplacement of the fish during the travel of the fish from thefish-cleaning means to the place where the beheading'operation takesplace.

24. A fish-dressing machine comprising a fish-carrier, means foroperating the carrier, an upwardly-projecting pin e borne by the carrierand movable up and down,which pin projects above the carrier in itselevated position, means acting to retain the pin in its elevatedposition, and means for lowering the pin, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

25. A fish-dressing machine comprising a fish-carrier, means foroperating the carrier, an upwardly-proj ecting pine movable up and downand projecting above the carrier in its elevated position, means actingto retain the pin in its elevated position, a suitably-tiltable leversupported from the carrier and connected with the lower end of theaforesaid pin, and means for tilting the lever in the direction requiredto lower the pin against the action of the means acting to retain thepin in its elevated position.

26. A fish-dressing machine comprising a fish-carrier, means foroperating the carrier, an upwardly-projecting pin e movable up and downand projecting above the carrier in its elevated position, means actingto retain the said pin in its elevated position, averticallytiltablelever supported from the carrier and connected with the lower end of theaforesaid pin, which lever has one end thereof connected with the lowerend of the aforesaid pin and has its opposite end provided with aroller,

and a stationary incline arranged in the path of the said roller andhaving such trend that the travel of the roller in engagement with theincline shall result in the descent of the aforesaid pin.

27. A fish-dressing machine comprising a rotary fish-carrier; means foroperating the carrier means for attaching the fish which is to beoperated upon to the carrier near the outer or circumferential edge ofthe carrier, which fish-attaching means comprises an upwardly-projectingpin (2 borne by the carrier and movable up and down and projecting abovethe carrier in its elevated position; means acting to retain the saidpin in its elevated position; mechanism for lowering the said pin andthereby renderingit inoperative; a cutter arranged outside of the sweepof the carrier in position to longitudinally slit or open the fish;means forpreventing displacement of the fish preparatory to and duringthe operation of the cutter; means for scraping and cleaning the fishinternally and arranged a suitable distance from the cutter in thedirection in which the fish-carrier is rotated, and the spreading devicearranged circumferentially of the sweep of the carrier between thecutter and the fish-scraping and fish-cleaning means, and thearrangement of parts being such that the aforesaid fish-attaching pinshall be rendered operative prcparatory to the cutting operation, andrendered inoperative after the fish-scraping and fish-cleaningoperation.

28. A fish-dressing machine comprising a rotary fish-carrier; means foroperating the carrier; means for attaching the fish which is to beoperated upon to the carrier near the outer circumferential edge of thecarrier, which fish-attaching means comprises an up wardly-projectingpin borne by the carrier and movable up and down and projecting abovethe carrier in its elevated position; means acting to retain the saidpin in its elevated position; mechanism for lowering the said pin andrendering it inoperative; a cut ter arranged outside of the sweep of thecarrier in position to longitudinally slit or open the fish; means forpreventing displacement of the fish preparatory to and during theoperation of the cutter; means for scraping and cleaning the fishinternallyand arranged a suitable distance from the cutter in thedirection in which the fish-carrier is rotated; the spreading devicearranged circumferentially of the sweep of the carrier between thecutter and the fish-scraping and fish-cleaning means; a fish-beheadingknife borne by the carrier and movable up and down and arranged abovethe carrier in its elevated position; means acting to retain the knifein its elevated position; means for lowering the knife,whichknife-lowering means is arranged to operate after the fish-scraping andfishcleaning operation, and means for guiding and preventingdisplacement of the fish during its travel from the fish-cleaning andfish- IIO scraping means to the place at which the fish Signeil by me atCleveland, Ohio, this 26th beheading operation occurs, and theavrangeday of March, 1901. ment of parts being such that the aforesaidfish-attaching pin shall be rendered operative ALEXANDER FUNK 5preparatory to the cutting operation and shall Witnesses:

be renderedinoperative after the fish-behead- O. H. DORER,

ing operation. A. H. PARRAT'I.

